On a mild and bright Sunday morning, Angel and the dedicated Expand team drove through the countryside of Uganda. They passed farmland filled with Banana trees until they arrived at their destination: a humble brick structure on a concrete slab foundation. This unassuming church consisted of three walls, with no protective roof overhead.
A Beautiful Sight
When Angel stepped inside, she was greeted by a beautiful sight. The church brimmed with people, dressed in vibrant colors, cheerfully singing and dancing. Angel couldn’t help but be moved by the radiant happiness that filled the church.“The people wore their best. They were bright and happy. It was joyful. They were dancing with arms raised!”
This was not Angel’s first visit to Uganda and she expected to teach women at the church. What she wasn’t expecting was the level of heartwarming display of generosity and gratitude from the church members.
Unexpected Generosity
During the church service, the time came for the members to bring gifts to support the church. Then something surprising happened. The people turned their attention to Angel and the rest of the Expand team. “They started to give to us: two chickens, potatoes, and bananas. They gave what little they had,” Angel said.
Angel was overwhelmed with their generosity. The churches Expand Uganda serves are in areas of extreme poverty. These kind gifts, unconventional to Angel, put in perspective how thankful the people were to have the US team come visit their church. Angel remarked,“They had so little. They didn’t even have Bibles.”
Expand Uganda’s Impact
Angel knows the impact Expand Uganda is having in the area. “When people give to Expand Uganda it goes to support pastors and families to really help. It shows them that we are on their side.”
Since the trip, Angel has a more deliberate perspective of her own community in Oregon. “The things that I once thought were important aren’t. It’s about relationships and encouragement. I don’t want to get sidetracked.”
A Profound Lesson
Angel carried back with her not just memories, but a newfound desire to embrace simplicity. She has unearthed a profound lesson in the beauty of being known, forging genuine relationships, and providing wholehearted encouragement to those around her.
